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California-based DirecTV called a proposed tax that could be assessed against satellite TV viewers in the Golden State anti-competitive.

The company said the five percent dish tax is an apparent attempt by the cable industry to gain a competitive advantage by burdening satellite TV customers with a tax that is not imposed on cable TV customers.

The proposed DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) tax is included in a budget bill that was narrowly defeated in the California Assembly last week, but which is likely to be re-introduced this week by Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City). California has more than 2.3 million satellite TV customers, the most of any state, according to SkyTRENDS data.

"As a California-based business, DirecTV is alarmed by this discriminatory move to tax a consumer service in a search for new revenue sources," said Roxanne Austin, president and COO at DirecTV. "If the satellite TV tax is approved, what other consumer services will be taxed next? This may well open the floodgates."

Also, customers pay their fair share of state sales taxes - between $14 and $25 - when they purchase DirecTV equipment, Austin said.

First they started to tax our wages . Then , our gas . then , cigerette tax was imposed . Does anyone see a trend here ? . Goverment taxes us for everything . next it will be sex . Look out then . The USA turns comminst .

Originally posted by catman First they started to tax our wages . Then , our gas . then , cigerette tax was imposed . Does anyone see a trend here ? . Goverment taxes us for everything . next it will be sex . Look out then . The USA turns comminst .

Why does everyone also jump at the "Communist" word, when it obvious you don't know what it means.The USA has a high income tax, has had for decades.

Originally posted by Arclight Notice the guy who plans to re-introduce it is a Demo'!!

Tax and spend!!

Thats why businesses have been leaving Calif for years--too many taxes.

Taxifornia

So ready to point a finger. Have you checked the balance in your 401K lately? Wasn't it the Repubs who were against tougher laws to monitor big business, and then recently (with politically correct timing) changed their minds.